The Nigeria U17 team will in the coming days roundup preparation for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations with the final step expected to be a camp in Germany as first reported by OGN.

Coach Nduka Ugabde has been drilling the lads in Abuja for the past two months in his bid to ensure that they pick one of the four tickets available for African teams at the World Cup from the tournament, which is the qualifiers for the World Cup.

In test games, the team has blown away all opposition that has come their way and the manner they have gone about it is what has been the talking points as they build up to the tournament, which will take place in Algeria.

So far in test games, they have scored a total of 60 goals and conceded just 14. A sign that they have some sort of balance between defence and attack. Who are the players responsible for this goal scoring feat.

Ironically, the team doesn’t seem to depend on just the attackers for goals with the midfielders and defenders also get in on the act. The trio of Yahaya Lawali, Light Eke and free kick specialist Emmanuel Michael have all weighed in with couple of goals.

The attack of the team defines potency with the quartet of Precious Williams, Charles Agada, Abubakar Abdullahi and Umar Abubakar. They have accounted for 65 percent of the goal, so good that Umar has been listed in the Nigeria U20 preliminary list for the U20 World Cup. All eyes will no doubt be centered on them.

They will play their opening group game against Zambia on the 30th of April before taking on Morocco on the 3rd of May, their campaign in the group will end with a game against South Africa on the 6th of May.

Mohammed Mowiz

Top teams around Europe are already lining up players they will sign in the summer to boost their team ahead of the challenges of next season particularly teams who are going to be involved in European competitions, OGN reports.

Also players who they sensed are wanted by other teams will be their focus as they aim to beat other competitors. Such is the story of the five Nigerian players who will be the focus of this report by OGN editor in chief Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman.

Victor Osimhen – On the verge of powering Napoli to their first league titles since the 90’s. His performance hasn’t gone unnoticed by top teams around Europe. Bayern Munich are said to be the favourite for his signature but it will take a fee of around €120m to price him from the soon to be Serie A champions.

Samuel Chukwueze – He will be in the final year of his contract at the end of this season and with no talks of an extension, he is likey to be on his way out of the team.

Enjoying his most prolific season ever with 13 goals and 11 assists, his deal has a buyout clause of €80m and for teams like Napoli, AC Milan who have been credited with interest in signing him, a fee in the region of €60m is seen as something that Villarreal won’t reject considering his contract situation.

Victor Boniface – Currently the joint top scorer in the Europa League with six goals alongside Marcus Rashford. The 22 year old who has seven league goals for Union Saint-Gilloise is on the radar of a host of teams in Europe. A fee in excess of 30-35m euros is what his team are believe he is worth.

Gift Orban – At Gent he is seen as one of the best piece of business they have done in recent times. Signed from Norwegian side Stabæk for 3 million euros, the speed with which he has settled down at his new surroundings has alerted top teams in Europe.

The back to back player of the winner of the Belgium player to the month award with 14 goals in 13 games since February. A fee of around €40m is what his Belgium side are hoping he will fetch them.

Folarin Balogun – The on loan Arsenal forward is  yet to be confirmed as a player who is keen on playing for Nigeria as he mulls over continuing with England or switching to the USA. His form at Ligue 1 side Reims, where he is the top scorer in the league with 19 goals has made it hard for Arsenal to keep hold of him especially as he is not sure of regular game time.

A move is set to appeal to his camp and RB Leipzig, the team credited to be heavily keen on him will pay a fee of around €50m to land him ahead of other suitors.

Former Nigeria U17 forward Kunle Olusegun says the current war going on between Russia and Ukraine is partly the reason why he hasn’t been considered for a spot in the senior national team of Nigeria.

Kunle plays for Russian side FK Krasnodar and has been one of their standout players for two seasons since his move to the team from Danish second division side Fremad Amager. He spent time on loan to Bulgarian side Botev Plodiv before his permanent transfer.

His rise in stock coincided with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and according to the 20 year old that move by his host country has affected his career to a large extent, including denying him a potential call up to the senior national team of Nigeria.

“Staying in Russia has really affected my career,” Olusegun told Shina Okeleji in a report for BBC Sport Africa.

‘In my first season, I scored some fantastic goals which would have led to a call-up to the Super Eagles or Under-23s, but due to the sanction no one is watching the Russian League.

“My dream is to play for Nigeria again. But with where I am, maybe it’s a dream that has to wait. That is one of the disadvantages of me staying back in Russia.”

He gave an instance when he was called up to be a part of the Nigeria U20 team but he couldn’t honour the call up, which would have seen him make the step up from U17, where he was a part of the team to the 2019 World Cup. At the WAFU tournament where Nigeria emerged winner he picked up the top scorer award.

“I was called to the Nigeria Under-20s last year but with the sanction of Russia – including flights in and out of the country – I could not meet up.

“I contacted the coach and reminded him that maybe next time I might be able to come if he invites me. That was the only call up I had”, he recounted.

On if he has entertained the thought of leaving Russia for another league, Kunle explained that he had offers from teams outside Russia but decided to remain with Krasnodar but with some clauses inserted into his deal.

“These past winter and summer windows, I got some interesting offers from some top leagues in Europe,” he revealed.

The option of terminating his contract using FIFA ‘s special dispensation clause or pausing his contract as approved by the football governing body due to the war is one idea that he doesn’t entertain because of how much he is loved at the club.

“But if they (Krasnodar) like your performance, and your dedication to the team, they will surely want you to stay. So they won my heart with that. We had a review of my contract and I decided to continue at Krasnodar, but with certain conditions and clauses.

“Maybe if I had accepted one of the offers elsewhere my career would have taken a different direction. I am loved at this club, they take care of me quite well and I feel at home.

“Maybe I am paying a heavy price for my decision but then again I am growing here and will continue to fight for the club”, he rounded up saying.

Mohammed Mowiz

The race for the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League is shaping up to be a two horse race between Nigerian striker Victor Boniface and England international forward Marcus Rashford, OGN reports.

Rashford was missing today as Manchester United crumble at the death to draw 2-2 against Sevilla, a game they were leading 2-0 with three minutes left to play. In his absence Union Saint-Gilloise Boniface drew level with him on the scorers chart.

Boniface struck in the 51st minute of the game for his sixth goal of the campaign but it wasn’t enough for his team to claim a first leg quarter final win over Bayern Leverkusen, who drew level with just eight minutes of regulation time left to play in the game.

22 year old forward made the provisional list of players for the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of the back to back AFCON qualifiers games against Guinea Bissau but wasn’t selected in the final 20 man list with coach Jose Peseiro going for the trio of Paul Onuachu, Victor Osimhen and Terem Moffi.

Both teams will be up against each other next week and with Rashford still expected to be missing for the return leg of the Sevilla game, Boniface will fancy his chances of pulling clear off the English man in the race to be top scorer in the tournament.

However both players should be wary of Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez who is on five goals as well. The Mexican fired blanks  against Roma and will hope to be on target in the second leg next week.

Mohammed Mowiz

Nigerian international forward Terem Moffi stole the show for his French side Nice in the first league of the quarter final of the Europa Conference League with a brace in a 2-2 draw against Basle, OGN reports.

Nice went behind in the 26th minute with Zeki Amdouni giving them the lead from the spot. Moffi stuck twice with his first coming in the 38th minute, when he produced a spectacular overhead kick to draw his side level.

He ensured his side went into the break in the lead when he scored his second goal of the game one minute into added time before the half time break. Basle drew level once again through Amdouni with around 30 minutes left to play.

For the Nigerian, the brace took his goal count since his move to Nice from Lorient in January to six in eleven games.

Moffi scored 12 in 18 Ligue 1 games for Lorient before his move in January. He is having his best goal scoring season since his breakthrough at the top stage with Belgium side Kortrijk. 16 was his best ever tally and it came around three seasons ago when he just moved to Lorient.

Mohammed Mowiz

The coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso is close to finalizing the last details on the players who will be in his preliminary list for the U20 World Cup, OGN can exclusively reveal.

Bosso’s ward qualified for the U20 World Cup by finishing third at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations but the coach isn’t satisfied with certain areas in his team and has decided to plug the gap with players based abroad.

Although the coach is going to prosecute the World Cup with 75% of the players who were at the AFCON, he however wants to bring competition to his team, hence his decision to call up new players, he has also dropped some players from the AFCON team.

In goal, the coach will stick with the three goalkeepers he took to the AFCON but he will bring another left back and also a center back to the team. Both players who were made to believe will come from teams in Nigeria.

However in midfield, Bosso has three names lined up with doubts over the availability of Daniel Daga, who is still recuperating from the Injury he picked up in the opening game of the AFCON. Ebenezer Akinsanmiro of Inter Milan tops the list.

Talks have started with Victor Eletu of AC Milan but it’s still at a very early stage, so one can’t categorically say he is in the list. The same can be said of Basit Ojediran, who was with the team but dropped before the AFCON.

On the flanks, Joel Ideho of Arsenal is one who has won the heart of the coach, he did so after two training sessions in Abuja. Bar his passport issues he will no doubt be in the list. Newly signed Rangers of Scotland winger Thompson Ishaka is also in the list. He was with the team at their camp in Abuja.

Where the coach has bigger concerns is in attack and he has made his pick already with Crystal Palace Ademola Ola-Adebomi, Segun Otusanya of Norwegian side FK Haugesund who have both trained with the team handed a spot in the list.

Nathan Coker of Norwich City is also handed another chance by Bosso while reports have it that a striker recommended by ex Super Eagles striker Aiyegbeni is also in the list. Egypt based Charles Ekpeyong of Ghazi El Mahalla is also under consideration for a spot.

Mohammed Mowiz

The future of Nigeria international winger Samuel Chukwueze at Spanish side Villarreal isn’t certain as he enters the final year of his deal with the club, OGN reports.

Chukwueze will have a year left on his deal at the end of the season and with no talks of an extension, it’s likely that he will leave the club in the summer. Villarreal are also open to letting the 23 year old leave as they will struggle to renew his deal due to the LaLiga strict financial control regulations.

His representatives could demand a salary that could stretch the budget of the team particularly with the kind of season he is having at the moment. Presently he has 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions including a brace against league giants Real Madrid.

For now AC Milan are the team to have sounded out the representatives of the Nigerian but any deal will be done in the region of his release clause, which presently stands at €80m unless Villarreal agrees to negotiate it down.

AC Milan will be hoping they will be open to a deal for a fee less than what is in his deal with a year on his deal and also with the fact that he could agree to a pre contract with a team abroad by January 2024. Aside from AC Milan, Napoli are also said to be interested in bringing him to the Diego Maradona Stadium.

Napoli sees his potential signing as one of the likely means to get Victor Osimhen to extend his deal at the club due to their very close relationship, which dates back to 2015 when they met in the camp of the Nigeria U17 team.

Daniel Martins

The decision not to hand a first time call up to Fulham defender Tosin Adarabiyio was down to the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro, a member of the technical department of the NFF told OGN.

Adarabiyio invited the technical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to England to watch him play in the game between Fulham and Crystal Palace. The move was the first made by the former England youth international to signify his interest in playing for Nigeria.

Eguavoen was said to have briefed Peseiro and handed over the contact of the defender to the Portuguese coach for talks and also begin the process of a switch of nationality but that call wasn’t made by the coach.

When Peseiro visited England, he didn’t check on the Fulham defender despite the fact that Eguavoen has already briefed him on the interest of the 25 year old in playing for the senior national team of Nigeria.

Peseiro is said to have passed on the chance of having talks with the defender after watching him and he believe the team has defenders, who are at his level or above his level based on the style he wants to play as coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

For Tosin to play for Nigeria, it probably has to be under another coach or possibly if the coach has a change of mind on his opinion about the former Manchester City youth team defender.

Daniel Martins

The Nigeria U17 team will compete at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations without the services of four of the midfielders who helped the team to win the WAFU B championship, OGN can exclusively reveal.

All four of them were at grade 4 when the Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI) test was carried out on the team. The lads fall within the grade limit of not more than 5 pegged by CAF but the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have their own policy on the grades.

NFF pegged the grades at four bearing in mind that players could hit the limit of five when tested at the tournament. The fear is taking players who are on five could see them jump to six and cost the team disqualification from the tournament.

However, coaches of the team have reached out to the hierarchy of the NFF to explain that other teams will be coming with players with grade 5 saying the decision not to allow players on that grade attend the tournament will weaken the Nigerian team.

Top chiefs at the NFF are however adamant on shifting grounds ahead of their trip to Germany for a training tour in preparation for the tournament, which is the qualifiers for the U17 World Cup.

Mohammed Mowiz

The head coach of the Nigeria U20 team Ladan Bosso has shown that he is keen on having only the best players play for Nigeria at the U20 World Cup by reaching out to players doing well at their respective teams home and abroad.

OGN can exclusively reveal that the coach who already has Inter Milan midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro on his preliminary list of players for the tournament has once again established contacts with another midfielder in Italy.

Bosso has made contact with the representatives of Victor Ehuwa Eletu who recently turned 18 with the hope of having the left footed midfielder who was named as the captain of the U19 in his team for the World Cup.

Already that is needed to forward this invitation is at the disposal of the coach, who is still putting finishing touches to his preliminary list of players and keen on bolstering his options in midfield, particularly with doubts over the availability of the team’s mercurial midfielder Daniel Daga.

Eletu has been present for AC Milan this season and played a huge role in their run up to the UEFA Youth League semi final, where they will take on Hajduk Split on the 21st of April. The Nigeria U20 team will be in camp around that time in Abuja.

Waziri Damian